19 December 2014
Friday of the Third Week of Advent
Drawing from Jesus’ birth that was foretold by an angel (Luke 1:26-38), we hear how the birth of Samson (Judges 13:2-13, 24-25) and the birth of John the Baptist (Luke 1:5-25) were also announced in a similar manner. Both new mothers are barren, but their sons will help to deliver the people back to YHWH. Both sons are consecrated to God from the womb; yet different people have different reactions to the story. In the first reading, the woman is first told about the birth of her son, but in the Gospel, it is Zechariah who is told about his wife’s upcoming pregnancy. While the woman does not question the angel, Zechariah does and he is struck mute as a result. Yet, regardless of the viewpoint, both of these stories serve as a prelude to the birth of Jesus, which is announced in the following verses of the Gospel (Luke 1:26-48). By listening to the events leading up to Jesus’ birth, let us be open to allowing Christ’s spirit of love to be once again be born in each of us.